Father of three Steve Baxter was all packed and eager to go following a surprise invitation to attend the Geneva II peace talks, aimed at finding a resolution to the two-year-long Syria conflict.

Then, just as suddenly, the invitation was withdrawn. "I got a text from some bloke calling himself Moon, who was like the organiser or something, and he said I couldn't come any more. Just like that. I was gutted."

A spokesperson for the UN said the invitation had been issued by mistake. "We apologise to Mr Baxter following the administrative error." It is believed the oversight also resulted in an invitation being issued and subsequently withdrawn to another attendee, Iran. "Mr Baxter shouldn't feel particularly aggrieved," said the spokesman, "however it is difficult to see precisely what a roofer from the Midlands could have brought to the party."

"I had a four-pack of Tennants," claimed Mr Baxter. "although I sunk two while I was doing me packing."